Leopard that strayed into SMS School released in Jhunjhunu forests

Jaipur: In a controversial move, the leopard that created scare after he strayed into residential areas near JLN Marg, Lal Kothi and SMS School two days also was taken to Jhunjhunu, nearly 180 km from his original habitat and released into the forests there. While the forest department officials didn’t have any valid arguments to justify this move, the wildlife experts said that the leopard should have been released into Jhalana forest which was his home.

The leopard strayed into the residential areas on Thursday and kept running scared for almost 24 hours. The animal was spotted at several places between Motidoongari Circle and Tonk Road. The reports of his sightings at homes, shops, gardens and hotel premises kept coming in throughout the day on Thursday and then Friday.

“We tranquilized the leopard and then took the animal to Basiyal forest near Jhunjhunu,” said a senior forest department officer.

The wildlife experts said that Jhalana forest was the leopard’s original habitat, so it was wrong to shift the animal to Jhunjhunu.

They said that there had been two incidents of leopards straying into the residential areas in Jaipur recently. In both the cases, they were released back into Jhalana forest after being captured.

They said that the relocation can lead to change in the behaviour of the wild animal. As a result, the leopard can get aggressive and attack people in the area.